Method of preparing insoles.



T. 1. BALL.

METHOD OF PREPARING INSOLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-M1911.

Patented Apr. 18,1916.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. BALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE mommyCOMPANY, or PATERSON, NEW JERSEY,

NEW JERSEY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. BALL, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Methods of Preparing Insoles, of which the following isa specification.

The present of preparing for reinforcing what are known commercially asGem insoles. The term reinforcing is used by those skilled in the art todesignate the operation of forming a bead or crimpin the reinforcingmaterial and securing it to the insole. The reinforcing materialemployed is usually canvas or duck and is attached to the insole by asticky substance which is applied to one side of the reinforcingmaterial before it is cut into pieces of the required size.

The present practice 1s to coat the reinforcingmaterial with the stickysubstance by a distinct operation so that it may be transported incondition for use. This invention deals with such coated material,whether it be coated by a distinct operation or by a coating operationperformed at the time of cutting the material into strips or blanks.

The chief object of the present invention is to cut the aforesaid coatedreinforcing material in such away as to avoid the great waste incidentto the practice hitherto followed. This practice has been to cut thesheetof reinforcing fabric into'strips whose width is equal at allpoints and whose side edges are straight. The width of such strips must,of course, be vsuflicient for the insoles at their widest portion,namely, the ball. The strips are then cut transversely to form separateblanks for separate soles. The blanks are secured to the soles by thereinforcing operation and the excess material extending laterally fromthe shank on both sides is trimmed oil. The quantity of excess materialwhen the strips or blanks are cut to uniform width is very great, first,because some soles are narrower than others, and, second, because theheel and mnrnon or rnnmnme INSOLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

invention relates to a method A CORPORATION OF Patented Apr. 18,1916.

Application filed August 4, 1911. Serial No. 642,340.

the reinforcing material, and the loss by waste is very great. Suchwaste is almost entirely avoided by the method hereinafter described,because the reinforcing material is cut into separate blanks of suchshape and size for each sole that there is no excess material to betrimmed of.

A large sheet of reinforcing material is out along serpentine lineswhich correspond more or less accurately to the curvatures along theside edges of the soles. The strips produced by cutting in this mannerare relatively Wide at some points and relatively narrow at intermediatepoints, the wide portlons being sufiicient for the ball portions of thesoles and the narrow portions being no more than necessary for the,shank portions of the soles. An idea may be had of' the savlng madepossible by the latter method when -it-is stated that nine strips formens soles, or thirteen strips for childrens soles, maynow be producedfrom a sheet of reinforcing material which would yield not more thanseven strips 'of suflicient width for mens soles or nine strips forchildrens soles if the width were equal at all points. The mere savingof canvas or duck is not the greatest item of economy. The

cost of the reinforcing material is greatly increased by the substancewith which one side is coated and by the operation of applying thecoating substance. The whole cost of the prepared reinforcing materialis very great, and the saving made possible by the present invention iscorrespondingly great, 7 c

The present invention has been stated in its broad aspect, but itembraces an expedient method of actuating cutters to cause the cuttersto traverse serpentine lines when dividing the sheet material intostrips The preferred method of carrying out the present invention is asfollows: The prep". red material, sticky on one side, is fed eogewisesticky side up, and the insoles are laid with their flesh, or 'lipped,sides upon the sticky substance. The soles are arranged in a series ofrows in such manner as to leave narrow, longitudinal strips of the sheetexposed. Preferably the edges of the rows of soles are made continuousby overlap-ping Q-- rmaeee the heel seat of each sole on the toe of theIn practising the present invention, as sole next to it. Thisarrangement is also illustrated in the drawings, a sheet ofreinimportant as it saves canvas, it being necesforcing material, suchas canvas or duck, is u sary to have the reinforcing'material extendmoved edgewise against one or more cutters 5' only to about the breastline of the sole. The arranged to intersect its plane. The cutters 7osoles, also, are arranged so that their longiare mounted so as to belaterally movable tudinal lines are substantially parallel to and theyare moved from side to side during the direction in which the work isfed, and the feeding movement of the work so as to the ball portion ofone sole is arranged in curve the side edges of the strips cut in ac- Is the transverse line of the shank portion of *cordance with the lateralcurvature of the a sole in the next row. The reinforcing masoles whichare attached to the canvas. As terial with the soles stuck to itaccordingshown by Fig. 1, the reinforcing material, to the arrangementexplained is fedagainst indicated at 10, is taken from a roll 11 andcutters carried by followers which are is passed between rolls 12 and.13. Fig. 1

' 15 adapted to traverse the exposed strips of reincludes two rolls 13which are represented a inforcingmaterial between the rows of soles. asstanding at an angle one with relation The followers are mounted so asto be laterto the other. Although but one roll 12 is ally movableindependently of each other shown by Fig. '1, because of the characterand they are moved from side to side by the 0f the drawing, it may beunderstood that 20 edges of the moving rows of soles, thus there are twosuch rolls and that they are causing the cutters to cut in lines substanarr nge t an allgle Similar o th angle 'tially midway of the exposedstrips between of the rolls 13, also that each roll 12 coacts the rowsof soles The serpentine strips with a'ro1l13. It may be assumed that thethus produced areafterward ut trans rolls 12 are driven for the purposeof feed- 25 versely so as to divide them into separate ing the sheet ofreinforcing material and 9c blanks for the separate soles, and thecanthat the rolls 13 rest upon the work by vas is then molded about thestitch-receiving force of gravity. The purpose in arranging ribs'withwhich the soles are provided. The he t o pai s of o ls at t e a g eshown s quantity of reinforcing materi l whi h y to separate the stripsafter their severance so be trimmed from the sole after being molded fora pu p s h r i a e e p ain dis negligible, since the strips have beencut The cutters are arranged to engage the so that the curvature oftheir side edges corork in dvanc 0f he feed r 11- A Cu ter responds tothe curvature of the sole suitable for the purpose isshown by Fig. 8.

e invention resides primarily in cut- The blade of the cutter isindicated at 14,

B5 ting the strips so that the curvature of the n h cut ng dg hi h i-shaped, i edges will be in accordance with'the curvaindicated a 1 heimounted n a ture of the Soles, whether the cutting of the holder 16,hereinafter termed a follower, bestrips be controlled directl by thesoles or Cause it is adapted to be engaged and moved whether it beperformed before the soles laterally by the side edges of the sole. Any

40 have been attached to the reinforcing m desired number of cutters maybe provided, terial. I I depending upon the number .of strips into Ofthe accompanying drawings which which the reinforcin material is to bediillustrate the preferred way in which the vided. The points where thecutters are inpres'ent invention may be practised: Figure tended to actupon the work are indicated in 45 1 represents a perspective view ofappa- Fig- 1 at w, w, w-

ratus adapted to be used in practising the Although Figs. 1 and 2represent the sheet invention. 7 Fig. 2 represents a top plan ofreinforcing material as being divided into view of a relatively narrowsheet of reinbut four strips for four rows of soles, it is forcingmaterial on which a number of rows to be understood that the inventionis repre- 50 of nsoles are la d, one end of the sheet masented in thismanner only for the purpose terial being divided to form strips. Fig. 3of simplifying the drawings. The rein-. represents a cross section of aportion of forcing material will, in practice, be of such the sheetmaterial with soles thereon,- and width as to provide for the mosteconomical an elevation of a-laterally movable cutter. production ofstrips. The soles are indias Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of thecated at 20. They are attached .to the rein- 12 cutter and its movablesupport. 5 repforcing material, preferably by adhesive resents a topplan view thereof. Fig. 6 re substance. Thev reinforcing material now inresents a horizontal section in a plane ind general use-is coated on oneside with suitcated in Fig. 4 by hne F1g. repreable substance 26 whichis non adhesive un sents a horizontal section indicated in Fig. dernormal conditions so that the sheet may a N Fig. 8 represents an elevabereadily unwound from the roll but which tion of the cutter detached fromits movable is adapted to be rendered adhesive by the su port.application of heat or a liquid solvent. I he same reference charactersindicate the The apparatus illustrated by Fig. 11' insame parts whereverthey occur. chides heating devices over which the sheet 3v material isfed to soften the adhesive subfree to swing about the pivots 19, and thestance preparatory to the attaching of the followers are adapted to turnabout their soles. The heating devices shown comprise stems 17. Each armis preferably provided a drum 21 and a bed 22. A gas pipe 23 exwith aroll 32 for engaging an arm 33 on the tends through the drum, and a gaspipe 24: bracket 29 for the purpose of sustaining any extends under thebed. The pipes are pro'-- stress upon the arm, so as to prevent thevided with orifices 25 whichconstitute burnpivot 19 binding in itsbearing. Each folers. The reinforcin material is unwound lower isnormally held in one position by a" from the roll in suc manner that theunspring 34. In orderto limit oscillatory 10 prepared side will engagethe drum and the movement of the follower about its stem 17,

bed, leaving the coated side uppermost for the arm 18 is provided with alip 35 adapted the reception of the soles. x to be engaged byprojections such as pins 36 The soles are arranged in the relationinserted in the follower as shown by Fig. 7. shown by Fig. 2 upon thatstretch of. the The cross section of an insole is shown by 15reinforcing material which ispassing along Fig. 3. The edge of the soleis splitto prothe bed 22. The arrangement of the soles vide astitch-receiving rib 37 and a feather is such as to provide longitudinalrows and 38. Eachfollower is provided with lips 39 transverse rows. Theheel of each sole pref- 'which extend laterally, one from each side.erably overlaps the toe' of the sole in the The lips are adapted to liebetween the 20 same longitudinal row,,because it 1s not feather 38 andthe reinforcing material 10,

necessary to provide reinforcing material and their function is to keepthe work and for the heel seats of the sole. Referring now the cutter inoperative relation. to the transverse rows, it will be observed Thework, after being divided into strips, that the widest part of one soleis arranged passes between the rolls 12 and 13. The

25 in thetransverse line of the narrowest part strip-s become spreadapartvlaterally by reaof the adjacent sole. It is desirable to arson ofthe angular arrangement of the rolls range alternate soles so that theyextend in and in this way the liability of the strips one direction andto arrange the intermebecoming overlapped and stuck to each other diatesoles so that they extend in the oppois avoided. ,A board or deliverytable (not 30 site direction whenever the reinforcing mashown) may bearranged to receive the work 35 posed reinforcing material.

terial may be more efliciently used as the refrom the rolls 12 and 13.'Thestrips are sult of such arrangement. The longitudinal afterward cuttransversely, across the toe of rows are separated from each other so asto each sole, to provide a separate reinforcing provide narrow,intermediate strips of exblank for each sole, and thereafter the canvasblanks are then molded upon the-soles When the soles have been attached,they and trimmed if necessary in the usual manmove with the reinforcingmaterial between ner. I two coacting rolls 27 and 28 which are in Theknife 1 in making the sinuous cuts, advance of the cutters. The upperroll. 28 is guided by means of the lips 39 which con- 4 is adapted toyield, but by reason of its tact with the lip 37, and also by a contactweight it, also, is adapted to press the soles of the follower 16 withthe feather 38. against the sheet material to make them Therefore, theknife is guided by either the stlck more firmly. The rolls serve theaddilip 39 or the follower 16. In the claims the tional purpose ofmaintaining a slight tenterm marginal portion of an insole refers 45sion on that stretch of the work between to the rib 37 as well as to thefeather 38,

them and the feed rolls 12 and 13. The since these portionsof the insoleserve as a followers 16 enter between the longitudinal guide or form acam path to control the rows of soles and move from side to side ascourse of the cutter 1 4. the work advances, thus causing the cutters Iclaim:

50 to out along lines substantially as shown by 1. The method of cuttingsheet material Figs. 1 and 2. The followers may be mountfor reinforcinginsoles, consisting in relaed in any desired manner in orderto adapttively' moving the material and a cutter to them to be actuated in, themanner exadvance the point of operation of the cutter plained. Thepreferred manner of mountuponthe material in the direction of the 55 ingthem is that shown by Figs. 3, 4 and 5. length of a series of insolespositioned end Each follower is provided with a stem 17 to end upon thematerial, and moving the which is inounted in bearings inan arm 18.'cutter transversely of the relat ve move- The arm is connected to asuitable bracket ment of the material and cutter 1n accord- 29 by apivotmember 19. The bracket is ance with lateral curvatures of the series of60 mounted upon a rod 30 arranged to extend insoles.

transversely over the work. The several 2. The method of cutting sheetmaterlal brackets 29 for the several cutters may be for reinforcinglnsoles conslstlng n drawing fastened at the desired position upon a rodthe material in a continuous rectilinear path '30, each bracketbeing'provided' with a setedge-wlse against a cutter, positioninginscrew 31 for this purpose. The arms 18 are soles in a row upon thematerial before it 1 arvae-es reaches the cutter, and moving the cutterrelative to the movement of the material to cut a series of reversecurves in accordance wlth lateral curvatures of the lnsoles 1n the row.

ters, attaching insoles for simultaneousmovement with the material, andcutting the material from end to end along lines deter in rows end toend upon a sheet of adhesively coated reinforcing material, renderlngthe mined by lateral curvatures of the marmaterial adhesive to securethe insoles, and

utilizing the rows of insoles as a guide for cutting the material intostrips along reversely curved lines simulating lateral curvatures of therows of insoles.

6. The method of preparing insoles for reinforcing, consisting insticking a series of insoles in rows to a sheet of reinforcing fabric,then feeding the series of insoles while stuck to the fabric, andthereafter cutting the sheet into strips along lines extendingsubstantially equidistant between'adjacent rows of insoles,substantially as de scribed.

7, The method of preparing insoles for reinforcing, consisting insticking insoles end to end in a series of rows to a sheet ofreinforcing fabric and cutting the sheet continuously from end to endinto strips along reversely curved lines extend-ing substant'iallyequidistant between adjacent rows of insoles, substantially asdescribed.

8. The method of cutting sheet material for reinforcing insolescomprising, positioning the insoles on the material in rows with theball portion of the insole in one row opposite the shank portion of theinsole in an adjacent row, feeding the material against a cutter, andmoving the cutter relatively to the line of feed to form a serpentinepath which is approximately determined by lateral curvatures of opposedmarginal portions of the insoles in adjacent rows.

9. The method of preparing reinforcing 'material for insoles consistingin feeding a 3. The method of cutting sheet material reinforcingmaterial with an adhesive side thereon against a cutter treating thereinforcing material to make it adhesive, placing insoles upon theadhesive material, pressing the insoles to secure them to the material,and cutting the material in a path determined by marginal portions ofthe adhering insoles.

10. The method of preparing insoles for reinforcing consisting infeeding a sheet of sticky reinforcing fabric with rows of insolesadhering theteto, dividing the fabric between the rows into stripshaving edges of serpentine outline, and then laterally forcing apart thestrips so cut to prevent entangling, substantially as described.

11. The method of preparing insoles for reinforcing consisting insticking insoles end to end in a series of rows to a sheet of rein.-forcing fabric, alternate rows having the toes of the insoles pointed inopposite directions, and then cutting the sheet into strips along lineslying between the rows of insoles, and'simulating lateral curvatures oftheir marginal portions, substantially as described. 1

12. The method of preparing insoles for reinforcing consisting insticking insoles end to end in a series vof rows to a sheet ofreinforcing fabric, dividing the fabric into strips having edges ofserpentine outline, by cutting between the rows, and then dividing thestrips into single blanks by severing them transversely at one end ofeach insole, substantially as described.

13.".The method of, preparing insoles for reinforcing consisting insticking insoles to a sheet of reinforcingfabric arranged heel to tOeina series of rows each heel overlapping the toe of the next adjacentsole in the row, dividing the fabric into strips by cutting between therows, and then cutting the strips transversely into single blanks acrossthe toe of each insole, substantially as described.

14. The method of reparing insoles for reinforcing consisting in feedingforward a sheet of adhesively coated reinforcing fabric, sticky side up,then'laying lipped insoles, lip side down, on said fabric, heel totoe'ln a serles 'of rows, insoles in adjacent rows having balls oppositeshanks, leaving exposed a sinuous strip of fabric between ing materialinto two or more strips, and. In testimony whereof I have afiixed. mymoving the adjacent cutters alternately tosignature, in presence of twoWitnesses. a, Ward and from one another transverse to THOMAS J. BALL.the line of relative movement of the web and Witnesses:

5 cutters to make each pair of cuts alternately I M. B. MAY,

diverge and converge. 1 P. W. PEzzE'r'rL

